Except as otherwise provided in this section, at the time of any emergency, catastrophe or other life- or property-threatening event which jeopardizes the ability of an insurer to address the financial needs of its insureds or the public, no political subdivision shall impose restrictions or enforce local licensing or registration ordinances with respect to such insurer’s claims handling operations. As used in this section, the term “claims handling operations” includes but is not limited to the establishment of a base of operations by an insurer within the disaster area and the investigation and handling of claims by personnel authorized by any such insurer. Nothing herein shall prohibit a political subdivision from performing any safety inspection authorized by local ordinance of the premises of the insurer’s base of operations within the disaster area.